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Former Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen.
The Chicago Bears made some big changes to the offense this offseason, most of which came in the form of additions.
However, the biggest subtraction from the roster was that of six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen. Chicago traded a fourth-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers to acquire Allen ahead of the 2024 campaign, paying him more than $18 million in base salary over the course of his age-32 season.
Allen wasn’t a bad acquisition per say, though the Bears front office clearly got ahead of itself by dealing a Day 2 draft pick for such an expensive wideout in quarterback Caleb Williams‘ first year under center. Allen put up 70 catches for 744 receiving yards and a team-leading seven touchdown receptions, though he also missed two games due to injury and was hampered in multiple others.
Chicago let Allen walk in free agency this offseason, and he has yet to sign with a new team. Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports on June 9 named the Pittsburgh Steelers as a top destination for the receiver in 2025 after they finalized a one-year deal to make Aaron Rodgers their starting quarterback.
“Age is not necessarily on Allen’s side anymore; the longtime Los Angeles Chargers star is 33 and hasn’t played a full NFL season in more than a half-decade,” Benjamin wrote. “That shouldn’t necessarily hold the Steelers up from courting him as an unsigned free agent, given their commitment to a 41-year-old Rodgers. Yes, Allen looked a step slow in his lone season with the Chicago Bears to start 2024, but he was a favorite target of Caleb Williams later on, and his expertise is quarterback-friendly route-running. He could make for a plug-and-play possession target.”
Bears Revamped Offense for QB Caleb Williams This Offseason
GettyChicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.
Though Allen has departed, Chicago may still have upgraded its core group of pass catchers.
Joining receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze is slot receiver Luther Burden III, a second-round pick out of Missouri on whom the Bears front office and coaching staff are extremely high. Chicago also added tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 pick in the first round to play alongside Cole Kmet.
The Bears have yet to add a premier running back this offseason, though 2024 starter D’Andre Swift is a solid receiver out of the backfield. Chicago also revamped the interior of its offensive line during the spring, trading for two new starting offensive guards and signing a new starting center in free agency.
Ben Johnson High on Caleb Williams Through Preseason Thus Far
GettyChicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
Head coach Ben Johnson recently sang the praises of Williams after mandatory minicamp concluded this week, adding more optimism to the equation for Bears fans in 2025.
There is always a throw or two every single day. The movement stuff outside of the pocket, it’s what we thought coming into town here — the ability to create.
Sometimes you get wrapped up when you’re in the multiple play call game, being in the perfect play all the time for the perfect coverage, that look of the defense. And really with him, it doesn’t matter so much what the play call is. If it’s the perfect play, then it’s great, it’s there. If it’s not, then he’s able to find a way to make it work. So, I think there’s a little bit of that that’s going on right now and figuring that out.
